At least 26 people were killed and more than 80 injured in Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine on Tuesday afternoon. Ukrainian officials reported that the strikes targeted Kramatorsk in the east, Zaporizhzhia in the southeast, and Chernihiv in the north. Zaporizhzhia regional governor Ivan Fedorov said at least 12 people were killed in his area. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that five people died in Kramatorsk and four in Dnipro following separate attacks.

Officials also confirmed that overnight airstrikes hit state gas facilities in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions, killing at least five people. The attacks came a day after Kyiv and Moscow had separately announced a ceasefire to take effect later in the week.

The renewed wave of strikes underscores the continuing intensity of the conflict despite the pending ceasefire announcement, raising concerns about further civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of engaging in 'nuclear terrorism' during a speech on Sunday marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster. According to a report by AFP, Zelensky said that Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine had once again brought the world to the brink of a man-made catastrophe.

Zelensky alleged that Russian drones regularly fly over the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and that one drone struck the site’s protective structure last year. He urged the international community not to allow such 'nuclear terrorism' to continue, emphasizing that the best way to stop it would be to compel Russia to end its reckless attacks.

The Chernobyl disaster occurred in 1986 and remains one of the most severe nuclear accidents in history, serving as a grim reminder of the potential dangers of nuclear mishandling.

At least eight people were killed and 49 injured in a 20-hour Russian drone and missile assault on the central-eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, local authorities said on Saturday. The attack, which began before dawn and continued into the afternoon, struck residential areas, businesses, and energy infrastructure. Officials described it as the largest attack on Dnipro to date. Among the injured were two children and a city mayor’s adviser. Additional casualties were reported in other parts of the Dnipropetrovsk region and in neighboring Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 619 drones and 47 missiles overnight, most of which were intercepted. The Russian defense ministry claimed it targeted Ukrainian military sites, denying attacks on civilians. A drone also crashed in Romania, prompting evacuations and the deployment of British fighter jets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, visiting Azerbaijan, urged the international community to respond more firmly to Russia’s actions.

The Dnipropetrovsk region is a key industrial area located about 100 kilometers from the front line. Diplomatic efforts to end the war remain stalled, with peace initiatives disrupted by other global conflicts.

In eastern Ukraine, remotely controlled ground robots carrying 66 pounds of explosives are being deployed toward Russian positions, supported by drones that clear paths with aerial bombs. One robot detonates near enemy lines while others remain behind to observe. The footage, recorded last summer, illustrates Ukraine’s adoption of new combat methods, according to the country’s leaders.

Facing manpower shortages, Kyiv is expanding its use of drones and automated weapons for defense. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that an attack in the Kharkiv region last year demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to seize Russian positions using automated systems alone. Although ground robots are typically used for logistics and medical evacuations, Ukraine is increasingly employing them for offensive operations.

According to the Defense Ministry, Ukrainian forces conducted over 9,000 frontline missions in March using drones equipped with explosives, machine guns, or rockets. While slower and more visible than quadcopter drones, ground robots can carry heavier explosive loads, though they remain vulnerable to enemy fire and have limited operational lifespans of about 24 hours.

Two civilians were killed in a Russian drone attack in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, according to the local military administration. The strike targeted a civilian area in the Bilopillia community, less than five kilometers from the Russian border. The victims were two men aged 48 and 72, local officials confirmed.

The report noted that Moscow has been conducting hundreds of drone attacks across various parts of Ukraine almost daily amid the ongoing war. In response, Kyiv has continued to strike Russian energy and military targets. Separately, in Russian-occupied Crimea’s Sevastopol, a Ukrainian drone attack killed one person inside a car and damaged several houses and a dance school.

Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have shot down 43 drones during the Sevastopol incident. The previous day, at least eight people were killed in a Russian assault on the central-southern city of Dnipro, which lasted nearly 20 hours in multiple waves, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange on Friday, releasing a total of 386 soldiers, with each side freeing 193 individuals. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the United Arab Emirates and the United States acted as humanitarian mediators in facilitating the exchange. The freed Russian soldiers are receiving medical and psychological assistance in Belarus before being repatriated to Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 193 Ukrainian fighters returned home as part of the exchange. In a post on social media platform X, he said the released personnel include members of the armed forces, National Guard, border guards, national police, and the State Special Transport Service. Some of those freed had been facing criminal charges in Russia, and several were wounded soldiers.

The exchange follows a previous swap on April 11, when Moscow and Kyiv exchanged 175 prisoners each, marking another step in ongoing humanitarian negotiations between the two countries.

At least six people were killed and fourteen others injured in a shooting in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, on Saturday, according to authorities. The attacker, a resident of the Holosiivskyi district in southern Kyiv, first opened fire on people in the street before entering a nearby supermarket and taking several hostages. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said police attempted to negotiate with the gunman for about forty minutes, but he remained unresponsive and agitated.

President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that four people were killed on the street, and a woman in her thirties later died in hospital. The attacker also killed one of the hostages. Klymenko stated that police tried to persuade the gunman to surrender to allow medical aid for the wounded, but he made no demands and did not respond. After killing a hostage, police were ordered to neutralize him.

The gunman was killed during an exchange of fire inside the supermarket. The motive for the attack remains unknown, and among the injured is a twelve-year-old child, according to Zelensky.

Russia carried out one of its deadliest attacks of the year on Ukraine early Thursday, striking multiple cities including Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. Officials reported at least 17 deaths, including a 12-year-old child, and dozens of injuries. In Kyiv, four people were killed when a drone hit an 18-story residential building, while fires and heavy smoke spread across the city. In Odesa, eight people were killed and 26 injured as a residential building and key infrastructure were damaged.

Dnipro faced repeated strikes from Wednesday evening into the night, leaving four dead and about 30 injured, with another fatality reported in a separate attack. Two people were injured in Kharkiv following drone strikes. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said rescue operations were ongoing and the death toll could rise.

Moscow claimed its attacks targeted Ukrainian power facilities, cruise missile sites, and drone production centers. Ukraine said it retaliated by striking Russian-occupied Crimea and infrastructure in Tuapse, where Russian media reported two deaths and seven injuries in a drone attack that caused a major fire.

Russia carried out a massive wave of attacks across multiple Ukrainian cities within a 24-hour period, launching 659 drones and 44 missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The strikes killed at least 14 people, most of whom died during nighttime assaults. Ukrainian air defense units reported intercepting 636 drones and 31 missiles during the barrage.

The attacks mark another escalation in the war that has continued for four years, with Moscow conducting near-nightly drone strikes. Kyiv has also been carrying out regular retaliatory attacks inside Russian territory. The ongoing exchange underscores the persistent intensity of the conflict between the two countries.

Russian officials reported that two children were killed in overnight Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, highlighting the cross-border nature of the hostilities that continue to claim civilian lives on both sides.

At least 14 people were killed in a new wave of Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, local authorities reported on Thursday. The strikes occurred overnight, hitting multiple regions including the capital Kyiv and the southern port city of Odesa. In Odesa, seven people were killed, while four died in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old child. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the casualties and said explosions caused fires in buildings and vehicles. In Dnipropetrovsk, three more deaths were reported. The attacks also left at least 45 people injured in Kyiv.

The assault came shortly after a 32-hour Orthodox Easter ceasefire ended, during which both sides accused each other of violations. Ukrainian officials said a drone directly struck an 18-story apartment building in Kyiv, while rescue teams pulled a child from the rubble in the Podilskyi district. Meanwhile, Russian officials reported that two children were killed in Ukraine’s retaliatory overnight strike on Russia’s Krasnodar region.

Authorities in Kyiv issued missile alerts and urged residents to remain in shelters until the all-clear was given.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said U.S. peace negotiators currently have “no time for Ukraine” due to the ongoing war in Iran. In an interview with Germany’s public broadcaster ZDF on Tuesday, he expressed concern that American weapons deliveries to Ukraine have been disrupted. Zelensky noted that U.S. mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are now engaged in continuous talks with Iran, leaving the U.S.-led peace process on Ukraine stalled since the Geneva meeting in February.

Zelensky warned that if Washington continues soft dialogue with Moscow without exerting pressure on President Vladimir Putin, Russia will feel emboldened. He said the Iran conflict has severely slowed U.S. arms supplies, particularly air defense systems such as PAC-3 and PAC-2 missiles purchased under the PURAL program funded by European partners. Speaking in Norway, Zelensky described the situation as “extremely difficult” and announced a joint declaration with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to strengthen defense and security cooperation.

Norway’s government confirmed plans to expand defense industry collaboration, including production of Ukrainian drones in Norway. Earlier, Zelensky also met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin to discuss the fifth year of the Russia-Ukraine war and announce a new strategic defense partnership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his country has helped several Middle Eastern nations shoot down Iranian-made Shahed drones. Zelensky made the remarks following his visit to the Middle East last week, highlighting Ukraine’s role in countering the drones that Iran supplies to Russia.

According to Zelensky’s post on social media platform X, Ukraine deployed military experts to the Middle East, including interceptor drone and electronic warfare specialists. These teams demonstrated how to operate interceptors and successfully destroyed Iranian Shahed drones in multiple countries. Zelensky described the outcome as a success.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, underscores Ukraine’s growing involvement in assisting other nations with drone defense, drawing on its extensive experience combating Shahed drones in its own conflict with Russia.

At least 15 people were killed and many others injured in a new wave of Russian attacks across multiple regions of Ukraine, according to reports published on April 5, 2026. The assaults, involving drones and missiles, struck civilian areas and heightened concern over rising casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul as the violence continued.

Regional officials reported that four people were killed and 11 injured in the Kharkiv region, while 11 others, including a child, were wounded in overnight drone strikes in Sumy. In Nikopol, a drone hit a market, killing five and injuring 25, and six more deaths were reported in Donetsk. Ukraine’s Air Force said it intercepted or neutralized 260 of 286 drones launched from Russia, though some still caused damage.

The report added that diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled, with recent meetings in Abu Dhabi and Geneva failing to produce progress. The next round of talks has been postponed due to tensions in the Middle East, while Turkey pledged to continue supporting dialogue.

At least 14 people were killed in a series of Russian attacks across Ukraine on Friday, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The strikes involved more than 500 drones and several dozen missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of intensifying assaults ahead of Catholic Easter, saying the skies should have been silent during the holy period.

Images released by Ukraine’s emergency services showed damaged residential buildings, debris-strewn streets, and the ruins of a multi-story structure. Regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported one death and eight injuries in Kyiv, where a veterinary clinic was also hit, killing about 20 animals. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said drone strikes damaged homes in Obukhiv and near a kindergarten and school in Vyshneve.

Authorities confirmed three deaths in the northern Sumy region, two in Zhytomyr and Dnipropetrovsk, and eight more in border areas including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday, April 1, that its forces have taken full control of Ukraine’s Luhansk region. The ministry stated that western military units had completely liberated Luhansk. Russia also reported capturing the villages of Verkhnya Pisarivka in Kharkiv and Boikove in Zaporizhzhia. Luhansk and Donetsk together form the Donbas region, where Russia already controls most of the territory.

The Kremlin reiterated its call for Ukrainian forces to withdraw entirely from Donetsk, a demand Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to withdraw troops from Donbas, the ongoing war could end. Zelensky, a day earlier, claimed that Russia had given the United States an ultimatum, threatening tougher peace terms if the remaining parts of Donbas were not captured within two months.

The conflict began in February 2022 when Russia launched a military operation to seize Donbas, later expanding into a full-scale war. Western nations have provided Ukraine with extensive financial and military support, contributing to the conflict’s prolongation and escalation.